SIBU: Salang Kaya, the 76-year-old grandfather of the late Constable Nicholester Dadup Unggat, cannot back his tears.
He finds it hard to accept that his beloved grandson has died in an accident and is gone forever.
Interviewed at his residence in Sibu Jaya on Monday, the former soldier said, “He was still young, only 20 years old.”
He revealed that Nicholester was the third in his family to die in an accident.
“My two adopted sons died in accidents. Now, my grandson also died in an accident,” he said.
Salang’s first adopted son died in an accident at a logging camp in Kapit in 1996 while his second adopted son, a soldier, died in an accident in Selangor in 2016.
Salang said he had been taking care of Nicholester ever since he was a child after his parents divorced.
Nicholester was killed and another policeman was seriously injured in a road accident when their patrol car crashed into an SUV and overturned while pursuing suspected criminals in a car at Jalan Kangkar Tebrau/Jalan Tun Teja in Johor Bahru on Sunday.
Salang said the last time he contacted his grandson was in the evening before the accident.
Nicholester had told him that he would be on night shift from midnight until 7am.
“I did not think that would be the last time I ld be hearing his voice. In the morning, he was involved in an accident and left forever,” said Salang, adding that they often communicated by phone.
Nicholester was posted to Dato’ Onn Police Station in Johor Bahru after completing his training at Pulapol in Kuching in May this year.
Salang explained that his grandson was very interested in joining the police force or the army from young.
Nicholester’s mother, Elizabeth Salang , 42, said she received the news about her son’s death at about 8am on Monday.
“I received the call from my son’s superior who informed me of the accident. I could not continue the conversation because I was very shocked. I handed over the phone to my husband,” she said.
She said that about three days ago, her son sent her a picture of himself wearing a police uniform on WhatsApp.
“He planned to take a picture in police uniform with family members when he returned home for a holiday,” explained Elizabeth who declined to continue her conversation.
Sibu District Police Chief ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit, when met at Salang’s residence, said Nicholester was expected to be buried at Nirvana Memorial Park, Jalan Sibu-Bintulu on Thursday morning.
He added he would be buried according to the police funeral customs.
Nicholester‘s body arrived at his grandfather’s residence at Sibu Jaya here at 1am today.
It was transported by land from Kuching after bad weather in Kuching on Monday afternoon did not permit his body to be flown by a Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) plane to Sibu Airport.
Sadness filled the atmosphere at Salang’s residence when his grandson’s body arrived. All family members and friends could not hold back their cries.
Hundreds of close family members and friends had gathered at the house since last Monday for his body to arrive.
The ‘nyengaie’ (pay last respects) ceremony is held for two days —Tuesday and Wednesday — before Nicholester is laid to rest on Thursday.
